Front-wheel drive for automobiles.



C. T. TOPPfNGS & C. N. MESENBRING.-

FRONT WHEEL DRIVE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION Fl LED NOV. 22, 19-15- 1,201,653, Patented Oct. 17,1916.

CHARLIE T. 'rorrnves AND cHAnLinn. mnsnnenrns, or sTANHorn, IOWA.

FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of letters Patent.

, lPatented Dot. Win16.-

Application filed November 22, 1915. Serial No. 62,908.

To all whom it ma i concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLIE T. Tor- IINGS and CHARLIE N. Mnsnxnnrxo, citizens of the United States, residing at Stanhope, in the county of Hamilton, State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Front-Wheel Drives for Automobiles; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in automobile drives, and particularly to a front wheel drive.

One object of the inventionis to improve and simplify the construction of the steering knuckles whereby the front wheels can be driven by the engine constantly, while at the same time being capable of quick and easy movement to steer the machine.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawin In the drawing: Figure 1 is a front elevation of one end portion of the front axle of an automobile, equipped with my improved steering mechanism; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 i's-a longitudinal sectional view on the line 3-8 of Fig. 2; and Fig. i is a transverse sectional view on the line 4 l of Fig. 8,

' Referring particularly to theaccompanying drawing, 10. represents a portion of the front axle of an automobile, on the end of which is mounted a casing 11. Extending vertically through the ""p of the outer end portion of this casing, and through the bottom at diametrically opposite points, re-

I spectively, are pivot pins 12. Disposed within the casing and connected with the inner ends of the pins-1s a sleeve 13, in which is formed a peripheral centralgroove 14f Formed on the outer end of this sleeve is an axle spindle 15. adlithin the sleeve, and mounted on diametrically opposite pivot pins 16 is a ring 17, within which extends end thereof a sleeve ivotall mounted one end of the front drive shaft 18. This end of the shaft is pivotally connected to the ring 17, by the pins 19 disposed at points diametrically opposite each other and at angles of 90 from the pivot pins 16. En-

gaged in the groove 14: are the curved portions 20 of a pair of flat bars 21, their longer portions 22 being extended outwardly through a slot 23 in the casing 11 and secured together by bolts, rivets or the like, as shown at 2%. The other ends of these bars are similarly connected together, and extend through a slot 25 in the opposite side of the casing and over which is secured a small housing 26. To the outer connected ends or the longer portions of the bars is connected one end of the transverse steering rod, (not shown). Between the curved portions of the said bars, and thebottom wall of the groove 14, there are placed a circular series of anti-friction roller bearings 28, which permit of the easy rotation of the sleeve within said curved portions,

On the outer end of the casing, and sur rounding the ,mner end of the axle spindle is a metal closure plate 29 in the edge por-.

tion of which, at two diametrically opposite points are formed the parallel slots 30. Pins 31 are disposed through these slots and in the end of the casing, as shown. The central opening of the plate is approximately the size of the spindle, and when the said spindle is turned by the steering rod the plate will be moved therewith and thus completely cover the opening in the end of the casing. This obviates .the necessity for rigidlv securing the plate and then providing an elongated opening for the spindle to move It will be noted that the casing '11 is cylindrical in its outer portion and tapers inwardly toward the center of the shaft, to the approximate size of the driving shaft. What is claimed is: I The combination with the front axle of an automobile, of a casing mounted each in the outer end of the casing and carrying an sleeve, an operating arm movably engaged axl spindle on its outer end, a drive shaft In testimony whereof We afix our signaunlversally 'pl'voted 1n the lnner end of sald tures, in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLIE "rorrmos. around szud sleeve and PI'OJBCUHO throuqh- 1 k one side of the casing, and a clo ure pld te CHARLIE MEESENBRING' for the outer end of the casing and shdably Witnesses: mounted thereon for transverse movement FRANK H. ALLIE, wlth the spmdle. EUGENE B. ALLIE. 

